There are three of them, Cécilia, Manuella, and Alexia. They share a deep commitment to humanitarian organizations, including Imagine For Margo, which raises funds for cancer research. At the beginning of December, they participated in the Raid des Alizés in Martinique, a three-day sports event. Accompanied by Christophe Pinna, world karate champion and race director, we reflect together on their experience.
The Raid des Alizés is a rather unique initiative. This sporting event takes place in Martinique over 4 days. “There are mountain biking, trail running, and kayaking events as well. It’s an adventure in a bivouac, with the idea of not being in complete comfort. The Raid is 100% female, which is its peculiarity,” explains Christophe Pinna.
75 teams of three women take on the challenge each year. Each trio is inevitably obligated to represent a humanitarian organization, as all the money raised is then donated to the causes they support. This commitment motivated the participation of team Orpéa, composed of Cécilia, Manuella, and Alexia. Together, they decided to compete in support of the association Imagine for Margo. “It’s been three years now that the Orpéa company has been supporting the Imagine for Margo association. It focuses its activity on medical research. All the funds go to research for programs,” Cécilia says.
Orpéa is a group of retirement homes and clinics present throughout France. For 3 years, the directors have mobilized the personnel of the establishments to raise funds for this association fighting against cancer. “This year, we again handed over a check for 160,000 euros, the result of a national commitment,” Cécilia specifies. The money is obtained through various initiatives, such as raffles for example. For 2018, the three colleagues wanted to give another impulse than through the traditional race organized in Paris each year by the association.
“Manuella was following Christophe on his social networks and saw a post related to the Raid des Alizés. We knew we were going to do it. We formed the team in 2 minutes. What interests me is to promote the commitment of almost 16,000 people within the group. The world of work is complicated, we are in a often criticized sector. Our teams do jobs that are just wonderful. These are demanding professions, these projects highlight them,” explains Cécilia.
After a difficult and grueling year of training, team Orpéa took flight to Martinique. The Raid’s program is very rigorous, divided into 4 days of sporting events. 70 people ensure the safety of the teams and the proper conduct of the stages. “The routes are never the same, we set up false trails to spice up the challenge. But there’s real conviviality. In the evening, we have meals together, we talk and help each other,” Christophe specifies.
Taking part in such an adventure requires completely cutting oneself off from the outside world, isolating to reconnect with primary needs. You have to think about eating, hydrating, and taking care of yourself. The real performance lies in surpassing oneself by having a great experience. An experience all the more powerful when it is meant for others, for those who need it. “The greatest emotion was crossing the finish line. We hugged. It lasted for a very long time,” recounts Alexia.
Each team could choose a song to be played upon crossing the finish line. When team Orpéa crossed, the thundering rhythm of ACDC’s Highway to Hell echoed in the sky.
The link to the Imagine For Margo association’s website: https://imagineformargo.org/
